Vice President Operations

Summary:

The Vice President – Operations will be a central figure in the manufacturing activities of the company and will formulate and guide the vision and operations strategy for National Signal. They will develop the Annual Operations Plan and Strategy and will work closely with Sales and Quality on key customer issues, service levels, cost, and quality matters.

Reporting Structure

The Vice President – Operations reports directly to the President and CEO of National Signal, LLC. Reporting to this role is the Director of Facilities, Supply Chain Manager, and the Shipping and Receiving Manager.

Key Areas of Responsibility

The Vice President – Operations is responsible for ensuring there is a comprehensive and cohesive enterprise-wide long-term operational strategy (e.g., footprint, vertical, technology) designed to improve manufacturing and supply chain capabilities within their organization. The role partners with the businesses and enterprise functions on the development, implementation, execution, and on-going refinement and modernization of the evolution of their operations environment. The leader in this role is a key strategic partner on the executive team, driving business results to lead the organization into the future and in line with their mission, vision and purpose. The VP-Operations functions as a strategic thought partner and resource on these centers of excellence, understanding the various needs across the enterprise, and driving operational plans and programs needed to meet the goals of the organization and each business.

This role is directly responsible for the creation, deployment and stewardship of:

• Product consolidation opportunities
• Vertical integration strategies
• Oversight of strategic sourcing, quality, business excellence, manufacturing systems, and employee safety & security
• Execution of operational due diligence and associated integration related to acquisitions
• Special projects based on specific business needs
• Other duties as assigned from the CEO

Leadership                                                                                                    

Leads and develops a high performing enterprise operations team to ensure National Signal is building an operations ecosystem that drives excellence across all areas of the business. Acts as a key partner to each member of the senior leadership team and is the expert in the selection, assessment and development of people, tools, and processes to optimize operational strategies.

Operations Planning

Brings strategic vision and collaborates with the business regarding the manufacturing/operations planning needed to balance long-term needs with short-term priorities. The VP-Operations is accountable to the CEO for effectively overseeing the growth of the organization related to materials management, purchasing, logistics, production, quality assurance, manufacturing, scheduling, engineering, and facility maintenance to support revenue goals. This role is expected to play a key role in driving capital expenditure planning and manufacturing planning.

Strategic Sourcing & Quality Assurance                                                                 

Accountable for the oversight of monitoring and testing programs to ensure that incoming components and finished products are within specifications. Oversees systems and programs ensuring that all products manufactured by the company and outsourced suppliers meet established specifications and are of superior quality, consistency and reliability. Oversees best practice initiatives and programs to streamline and scale supplier and vendor management processes and standards, including identifying opportunities for synergy and cost savings. Ensures supply chain programs and processes are dynamic and resilient in the event of a crisis.

Compliance & Safety                                                                                               

Consistent with federal/state regulations and company policies, the VP-Operations is accountable for ensuring that all manufacturing facilities operate in strict compliance with government requirements as well as corporate policies within the scope of scheduling, production, quality assurance, environmental and all other operations. 

Continuous Improvement                                                                                         

Promotes a mindset of continuous improvement and drives operational excellence through optimizing processes, structure, and data to promote growth, effectiveness, efficiency, data quality and service delivery towards end users and customers. Builds trusted partnerships across the business units to influence and implement best practice and standardized methodologies, processes and procedures to enable growth, manufacturing innovation and quality.

Performance Metrics                                                                                     

Ensures operational leaders have tools and processes to operate within or below budgeted guidelines while delivering quality, on time, finished goods. Consistently collaborates with businesses to identify and execute cost reduction areas as well as areas of productivity, process, and safety improvements. Manufacturing schedule attainment is vital within the context of customer service expectations, cost and quality considerations. Partners with businesses to achieve working capital targets and consistent cash flow. Focuses on risk mitigation, value creation, and driving synergies across all operations.

Background Requirements:

This role requires an experienced leader who has a sense of purpose and the breadth of experience to define and lead a strategic vision across multiple key areas and execute on the strategy by utilizing partners and working collaboratively with people at all levels in the organization. Additionally, the ideal candidate has the potential and capacity to grow with the Company for the next five to ten years. They hire people who are humble, hungry, and smart. In addition, the successful candidate will be a strategic thought leader who can drive change and influence enterprise and business unit collaboration. 

Critical Competencies and Skills:

• Communicate Clearly: Says what needs to be said and listens to what others have to say, communicates transparently and authentically, uses data to create a compelling story, creates and regularly articulates an inspiring vision for the future. Strong communication in both English and Spanish is strongly desired, but not required
• Collaboration & Influence: Motivated by interdependence, works with others toward a common goal, leverages strong communication skills to bring others along, actively and positively influencing vs directing, sets an example and coaches others on effectively addressing challenges, finds win-win solutions
• Strategic Mindset: Develops enterprise-wide strategies that are distinctive in the market, create value and provide sustainable competitive advantage. Identifies and engages stakeholders to build alignment across the enterprise and drives decision-making down through the organization as appropriate.
• Change Leadership: Is able to lead an organization through significant change covering strategy, operations, process, culture, and behavior, ranging from operational change management to business-wide transformation.
• Drive Results: Demonstrates the ability to get things done while setting clear and challenging goals for the team; delegates and holds team accountable; sets expectations for safety, quality, and pace of work; looks for efficiencies and remove barriers to improvement; build team capabilities and synergies.
• Inspires Growth: Helps others improve by creating and reinforcing systems to support talent development; models effective coaching and delivery of feedback and recognition; creates and support a commitment to leveraging a growth.
• Be Inclusive: Seeks out different perspectives while cultivating an inclusive culture across the enterprise; develops others to be inclusive; builds teams that represent diverse perspectives; sets expectations for building trusted relationships across teams and business units; builds and leverages networks across the enterprise and outside the organization.
• Explores Possibilities: Asks “what if?” and embraces new ideas, sets a climate where innovative ideas are recognized and rewarded; continuously scans the market to stay current with business trends; takes a big picture view and anticipates emerging trends
• Transform the Road Ahead: Anticipates opportunities by establishing a culture where intelligent risk-taking is recognized and rewarded; allows teams to fail forward and learn from mistakes without fear of retribution; models the ability to anticipate and plan for disruption; prioritizes long-term thinking.
• Ability to think critically – recognizes connections, translates goals into action, uses strong judgment to make choices in alignment with strategy and company culture/values.
• Authentic leadership. A trusted and collaborative operator with humility and excellent leadership skills, who excels at developing people and building diverse, inclusive teams.

Education & Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, or equivalent technical degree.
• Master’s degree in business is preferred but not required.
• 12 years progressive operations experience with 6+ years in durable goods.
• Experience managing large scale operations including metal fabrication, assembly, and integration of electronics and electrical systems.
• Business case development and execution of capital expenditure projects successfully meeting project deliverables (time, cost, quality, performance)
• This position will require 15% to 25% travel to attend business meetings, trade shows, conferences, supplier reviews, and customer events based on business needs.

Base Salary: $180,000 - $200,000 per year